Tool for use in constructing masonry walls



Nov. 5, 1963 P. w. ERlcKsoN 3,109,193

Toor. FOR usa 1N coNsTRucTlNc MAsoNRY wALLs Filed may 21,'1962 INVENTOR.fon/.4 Maf/7M efe/50N 4r-MENEM United States Patent O 3,169,193 TOOL FRUSE IN CNSTRUCTIG MASONRY WALLS Paul William Erickson, New York, N.Y.(1930 Lacombe Ave., Bronx 72, NX.) Filed May 21, 1962, Ser. No. 196,2412 Claims. (Cl. 15-23S.3)

,Y an implement or tool of the type described which is extremely easy touse, greatly simplilies and speeds masonrywall construction, andsubstantially eliminates the needV for skill in 'building masonry walls.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide abuilding tool or implement which is quickly and easily adapted to form asmooth layer of mortar on a wall under construction, and simultaneouslyto neatly form the sides of the mortar layer in a desired manner.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of a novel meansfor forming the mortar between the vertical brick surfaces to present anappearance conforming with that of the mortar between horizontal bricksurfaces.

lt is still another object of the present invention to provide abuilding implement or tool having the advantageous characteristics-mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is extremely simple inconstruction, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, andwhich can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a mate rial part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplied in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

FIG. l is a top perspective view showing a masonry wall underconstruction and illustrating a building tool of the present inventionin its operative condition.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line2-2 of FIG. l.

"FiG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal elevational view showing an additionalimplement or tool of the present invention.

FG. 5 is a generally horizontal view-showing the tool of FIG. 4 and inoperative association with a wall being constructed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically toFIGS. 1 3 thereof, a masonry wall is there generally designated andshown in the process of being constructed. A tool, generally designated11, ofthe present invention is shown in operative association with theupper region of the wall. Operating upon a lower regio-n of the wall,see FIG. l, is illustrated a tool or implement 12 of the .presentinvention, which is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As illustrated, the wail l@ is of a two-layer construction, havingbricks 15 arranged in a pair of vertical, `sideby-side inner and outerlayers, as 'best seen in FIG. 2. The bricks 1S of wall 19 are alsoarranged in horizontal layers, as well as vertical layers, thehorizontal layers ice being separated by interposed mortar layers 16,and the vertical `layers ybeing separated by an interposed verticallayer of mortar 1'7. Of course, the instant invention is adapted for usewith a wide variety of masonry-wall constructions, the particularconstruction shown herein being only by way of illustration and withoutlimiting intent.

It will also be observed in FIG. 2 that the wall 1G seats upon a footing1S, which may be embedded in the ground 19.

The building'tool or implement 11 includes a generally rectangular,substantially hat member or plate 21 of a width approximately equal tothe thickness ofthe wall 10 being constructed. The plate 21 has one endedge 22 extending laterally or transversely between opposite side edgesof the plate, substantially normal thereto. Along the side edges of thegenerally rectangular member or plate 21 there may be providedupstanding lips or flanges 23; and, a rear wall 24 may upstand from therear end of the plate opposite to the end edge 22. The rear wall 24 4maybe of greater height than the side flanges or lips 23, and 'may beprovided on its side edges with forwar-dly extending lipsI or flanges25, each substantially coplanar with a respective adjacent llange 23.

The plate member 21 is further provided with a protuberance 27 on itsunderside, spaced medially between the side edges of the member. Asillustrated, the depending protuberance Z7 may extend longitudinally ofthe plate 21 and be formed thereon by .a longitudinally extending,medialiy located, upwardly facing depressed region 2S; n

Extending longitudinally along each side of the plate 21 is an elongateplatelike side member 30. More specilically each side membertlA extendslongitudinally along a respective side of the plate 21, Substantiallynormal thereto, and may have its upper region extending above the plate21 and secured by welding or other suitable means in facing engagementwith the outer surface of the adjacent flange or lip 23. The lowerregion of each side member 3d depen-ds generally vertically below theplate 2.1 and terminates in a generally horizontal lower is spread onthe upper course of bricks 15, and the tool llarranged withthe plate 21superposedA over the wall and the side members l3) depending alongopposite sides of the Wall. lnV thisconditiomrthe vtool 11 is movablelongitudinally along thewall, as will appear in greater detailhereinafter.

1n order to properly space the plate 21 above the upper course of`bricks 15, and leave therebetween an upper morta-r layer 35 of properthickness, there are provided internal-ly or" the side members 3G spacermeans 37 engageable with the upper course of bricks. The spacer means 37may each consist of an internal protrusion or bead extendinglongitudinally along and on the inner side of a respective side member3d adapted to ride on the adjacent upper corner of the upper course ofbricks. The underside of each bead or rib 37 is properly spaced belowthe underside of the plate l21 a distance equal to the desired thicknessof inished layer 35, as seen on the right-V hand sides of FIGS. l and 3;and, the spacer beads 37V are spaced above the lower side-.member edges31 such that the lower regions of the side members are engageable withopposite sides of the wall 10 to guide the tool 11 longitudinally alongthe wall. i

As best seen in FIG. 3, upon longitudinal movement of thet-ool 11 alongthe wall 12 in fthe direction -of arrow 39,

arcanes the leading edge 22 of the plate 21 cuts through the layer 25 toremove a portion thereof Igreater than the desired thickness andreceives the removed portion on the upper side of the plate 21.

In order to facilitate operation, a forward handle may be provided onthe tool 11 by a pair of upstanding extensions 41 from the forwardregions of llanges 23, and a hand grip member 42 extend-ing between andsecured to the upper ends of the extensions in spaced bridging relationwith respect to the plate 21. Similarly, -a rear handle 43y may |beprovided on the rearward end portions 33 of the sidepieces 30 by a pairof arms y44 each pivoted at one end, by pins `45 to the side members andhaving their other ends connected `by a hand grip 46.

The handles 40 and 43 may then be conveniently ernployed to move thetoolll along the wall 10 for removing excess mortar from lthe layer 35yonto the plate 21, to

leave the upper mortar layer `of proper thickness or height and havingwell-dened sides as formed by the spacer beads 37. Y Of course, themortar removed to the upper side of plate 21 may be reused to effect`substantially economy of materials. Further, in 4the illustratedernbodiment the depending protuberance 27 formed in the plate 21 by thedepression 28 serves to compact mortar into the vertical mortar layer 17between the vertical layers of brick.

In addition, the tool 12 is `best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 as including anelongate handle l having secured at one end an outwardly facing,generally U-shaped journal bearing 51. The journal bearing or support 51has its bight region ixed tothe handle 50 by any suitable fastener means52, and has its legs 53 extending in facing spaced relation generallyaway from `the handle. Journaled between the legs 53' is a rotary memberor wheel 54, which is freely rotatable about a central axis extendingbetween the leg-s 53. The peripheral configuration of the Wheel 54, asbest seen in FIG. 5, frnay be of a `central convex curvature 55 whichmerges `at each side with an outer concave curvature 56. The tool 12 is:particularly Well adapted for use as illustrated in FIGS. l and 5, byrolling engagement of the periphery of -wheel 54 with the mortar betweenbricks 15, and especially between the vertical surfaces of adjacentbricks. By this means, the exposed mortar surfaces are properly inished,and the mortar surfaces along horizontal and vertical layers of mortarmay be finished in conformity =with each other, in accordance with thesimilar conliguration of the beads 37 and periphery of wheel 54. f

In :addition to the operation of tool 11 described hereinbef-ore, lthetool may also be used in similar manner to form the footing 18.

If desired, a level may be Vapplied 1 tothe tool 11 to lmaintain thesame horizontal, especially in formation lof a foo-ting 13, but also inthe hist-described manner of usage. A y Y From the foregoing, it is seenthatfthe present invene 4 tion provides improvements in buildingimplements for masonry walls and the like, which vfully accomplish theirintended objects and are well adapted to meet practical conditions ofmanufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in sonne det-ail byWay of illustration and example for purposes of clarity ofunderstanding, it is understood that Y cer-tain changes and modiicationsmay be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and` desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A building tool vfor use in masonry construction comprising agenerally flat plate of a Width approximately equal to the thickness ofa masonry Wall and having a laterally extending leading end edge,saidplate being vadapted for superposition over a Wall duringconstruction, depending side members on opposite 'sides of said plateengageable with Iopposite sides of 4the wall for guiding the plate alongthe wall, and spacer means -on the inner sides of said side membersspaced a predetermined distance below said plate and adapted to ride onthe wall` to maintain said plate in spaced relation over the wall,

whereby said leading plate edge is adapted to cut a layer of mortar onthe Wall -to leave a predetermined thickness of layer on the Wall andremove the remainder to the plate, said plate being of a width slightlygreater than the width of two brick-s for use on a two-layer brick wall,and said plate having a depending protuberance medially between saidside members for depressing mortar -between the brick layers, saidspacer means comprising internal protuberi Y ances on -said dependingside lwalls coniigured to `form the sides ofv the remaining montar, andsaid internal protuberances comprising elongate beads extendinglongitudinally of said depending side walls spaced between said platesand the lower edges of said depending side walls.

2. A building tool according to claim 1, in combina-y tion with a handleconnected to and bridging said plate for manually moving the plate alongthe -wall and passing there-below the removed mortar, yand upstandingwalls along opposite sides and the other end of isaid plate forretaining said removed mortar.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNrrED VSTATES PATENTSTobert et al. July 24, v1962l

1. A BUILDING TOOL FOR USE IN MASONRY CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING AGENERALLY FLAT PLATE OF A WIDTH APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OFA MASONRY WALL AND HAVING A LATERALLY EXTENDING LEADING END EDGE, SAIDPLATE BEING ADAPTED FOR SUPERPOSITION OVER A WALL DURING CONSTRUCTION,DEPENDING SIDE MEMBERS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PLATE ENGAGEABLE WITHOPPOSITE SIDES OF THE WALL FOR GUIDING THE PLATE ALONG THE WALL, ANDSPACER MEANS ON THE INNER SIDES OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS SPACED APREDETERMINED DISTANCE BELOW SAID PLATE AND ADAPTED TO RIDE ON THE WALLTO MAINTAIN SAID PLATE IN SPACED RELATION OVER THE WALL, WHEREBY SAIDLEADING PLATE EDGE IS ADAPTED TO CUT A LAYER OF MORTAR ON THE WALL TOLEAVE A PREDETERMINED THICKNESS OF LAYER ON THE WALL AND REMOVE THEREMAINDER TO THE PLATE, SAID PLATE BEING OF A WIDTH SLIGHTLY GREATERTHAN THE WIDTH OF TWO BRICKS FOR USE ON A TWO-LAYER BRICK WALL, AND SAIDPLATE HAVING A DEPENDING PROTUBERANCE MEDIALLY BETWEEN SAID SIDE MEMBERSFOR DEPRESSING MORTAR BETWEEN THE BRICK LAYERS, SAID SPACER MEANSCOMPRISING INTERNAL PROTUBERANCES ON SAID DEPENDING SIDE WALLSCONFIGURED TO FORM THE SIDES OF THE REMAINING MORTAR, AND SAID INTERNALPROTUBERANCES COMPRISING ELONGATE BEADS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAIDDEPENDING SIDE WALLS SPACED BETWEEN SAID PLATES AND THE LOWER EDGES OFSAID DEPENDING SIDE WALLS.